Systems and methods for providing a slingplate for firearms

ABSTRACT

A slingplate for firearms which mounts to a firearm at its stock or other location and couplably receives a quick disconnect sling swivel or other portion of a sling for a firearm. A sling may be easily and securely attached to a firearm by pushing a quick disconnect sling swivel of a sling into the slingplate. Ball bearings protruding from the shank of the quick disconnect sling swivel are tensionally biased outward, engaging with a keyseat cut into a through hole disposed through the slingplate. The keyseat is one or more keyseat segments, which meet at two or more points within the keyseat and limit the rotation of the quick disconnect sling swivel. A raised bridge of the slingplate provides a gap in between the slingplate and the firearm such that the slingplate can act as a common sling loop, and facilitates removal of debris from the through hole.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/333,711 filed May 11, 2010 (our ref. KLVN-1-1001). The foregoing application is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to firearms, and more specifically, to a slingplate for firearms.

BACKGROUND

When firing or carrying a rifle or other firearm, it is often convenient to do so in conjunction with a sling. A sling is a strap attached to the rifle that can be used for carrying the rifle over the shoulder or across the body. The sling can also be used for additional support when firing the rifle by wrapping it around one's arm tightly to provide more stability when aiming the rifle downrange.

Slings that are optimized for different functions are commonly available and offer differing benefits of use. For example, when carrying a rifle over the shoulder, a broad strap with thick padding offers more comfort when carrying. And when aiming a rifle and wrapping the sling around the body for added support and stability, a narrower strap without any padding is more easily wrapped. Using a thin, non-padded sling appropriate for shooting while carrying the rifle, however, can result in an uncomfortable load, as the thinner strap has a tendency to bite into the shoulder. Also, when shooting from a bench, it is desirable to remove the sling altogether.

In addition, riflemen benefit from being able to attach a sling to a firearm at different points of the firearm. Right-handed and left-handed shooters may want to attach the sling to opposite sides of the stock of the rifle. There are even benefits to attaching the sling to the “wrong” side of the weapon for handedness, when in competition or in combat. A right-handed shooter would normally hold the weapon on the right side of the body, with the sling attached to the left side of the weapon. However, when firing around a corner and using the corner as a shield, or when firing out a window and using the window frame and surrounding wall as cover, the right-handed person may want to fire the rifle by holding it against the left side of the body and reducing the body's exposure as a target. This potentially life-saving act dictates that the sling be attached to the opposite side of the rifle.

Commonly, a sling attaches to a rifle through a sling loop. A sling loop is a strip of metal with a raised bridge configuration, where bolts attach the metal strip to the stock of the rifle, and the sling is passed underneath the raised bridge and joined to itself. A sling loop has the disadvantage of having a finite thickness of sling that can be passed under the raised bridge. While a thin, unpadded sling such as a shooting sling may be able to fit under the raised bridge of a common sling loop, a thicker sling with padding inside such as a carrying sling for comfortable carrying may not fit inside the sling loop.

Further, the sling loop is bolted to the rifle in a particular orientation, and the sling passed through the loop is inflexible at the loop. That means that it may be difficult to wrap the sling around the arm when using the sling to stabilize the rifle for aiming. Or, if the sling loop happens to be mounted to the rifle near any adjustment knobs or other controls, the sling itself may interfere with rifle adjustments by obstructing access to the control.

The industry has developed a sling swivel for attaching a sling to a rifle. A swivel is an attachment that couples to the sling, perhaps coupling with a fastex buckle, and connects to the rifle. As its name suggests, a sling swivel permits the sling to rotate, articulate, or otherwise impart motion to the sling relative to the rifle. A sling swivel may make it more comfortable to carry the rifle with the sling. Where coupling the sling to a rifle using a standard sling loop might mean a strap that is inflexible and bites into the shoulder, permitting the sling to articulate by using a sling swivel means less bite into the body and a more comfortable feel when carrying the weapon. The sling swivel also makes it easier to wrap the sling around the arm when aiming the rifle.

An additional enhancement is the quick-disconnect type of sling swivel. A quick-disconnect sling swivel permits a rifleman to quickly couple the sling to the weapon by inserting the shank of the sling swivel into a through-hole and permitting the quick-disconnect sling swivel to snap into place. Detaching the sling from the weapon becomes a simple matter of pushing a button on the quick-disconnect sling swivel to disengage it, and pulling the quick-disconnect sling swivel away from the rifle. Thus, changing slings from one used for carrying to one used for support during aiming is a quick operation. Likewise, attaching a sling at a different point on the firearm, or moving the sling to the other side of the rifle, is easily accomplished.

However, a quick-disconnect sling swivel does not mate with a standard sling loop. What is needed is a slingplate with a through-hole that receives the shank of the quick disconnect sling swivel. Such a slingplate would be mounted to the rifle, replacing the standard sling loop that comes with the rifle or a rifle stock. So that the rifle and its stock do not need undue modifications to accommodate the slingplate, a slingplate should have a similar physical profile as a standard sling loop, with mounting holes disposed through the slingplate corresponding to the location of the mounting holes of the factory sling loop. Ideally, the very bolts used to attach the factory sling loop could be reused to attach a slingplate.

What is needed, then, is a slingplate which can replace a factory stock sling loop. Once attached to the weapon, the slingplate would receive and mate with a quick disconnect sling swivel, forming a snug connection but permitting the sling to articulate. The slingplate would have a raised bridge configuration, permitting a sling to be passed underneath its raised bridge if needed, and also permitting access to the underside of the slingplate for cleaning away dirt that naturally accumulates when a rifle is used in an outdoor environment. Multiple slingplates could be attached to differing locations of the firearm, and on both sides of the firearm. This would permit a rifleman to quickly connect a sling to a rifle where needed, and then offer the ability to quickly detach the sling and move it to a different location on the rifle.

As can be easily seen, a slingplate replacing a common sling loop of a firearm has many benefits. Accordingly, this application discloses systems and methods for providing a slingplate for firearms.

SUMMARY

The invention relates generally to firearms, and more specifically, to a slingplate for firearms. In some embodiments, the invention includes a slingplate which is releasably attached to a firearm. In a further embodiment, mounting holes are disposed through opposite ends of a slingplate. In certain embodiments, a slingplate is attached to a firearm using a threaded fastener that mates with a threaded socket in the firearm. In some embodiments, a slingplate is attached to a firearm using bolts that were originally used to secure a sling loop that came with the firearm. In some embodiments, in order to reuse the bolts with which the original sling loop was attached to the firearm without undue modification of the firearm being required, beveled ramps at each opposing end of a slingplate lower the “height” of a slingplate such that the same bolts originally used with a factory sling loop will secure a slingplate to the firearm. In some embodiments, the mounting holes are disposed through the beveled ramps at such location as necessary to match the mounting location of the original sling loop.

In a certain embodiment, a slingplate includes a raised bridge at a center of a slingplate. In some embodiments, a slingplate includes one or more through holes disposed through the raised bridge of a slingplate. In a certain embodiment, the portion of a sling received by the through hole is a quick disconnect sling swivel. A through hole is configured to permit a quick disconnect sling swivel portion of a sling to rotate or articulate relative to the slingplate when the sling swivel is mated with the through hole of the slingplate.

In some embodiments, a slingplate includes a keyseated through hole. In some embodiments, when a quick disconnect sling swivel is mated with a slingplate, the shank of the quick disconnect sling swivel is inserted into the keyseated mounting hole of the slingplate. In a further embodiment, when inserting the shank into the keyseated mounting hole and applying pressure to the quick disconnect sling swivel in the direction of the slingplate, the one or more ball bearings will recede inward into the shank upon making contact with the slingplate at the aperture disposed through the top surface of the slingplate. In a further embodiment, when the quick disconnect sling swivel is pressed into the slingplate, the tensionally biased one or more ball bearings (where the ball bearings are also known as keys) will each be received by one or more individual keyseat segments. The tensionally biased ball bearings (keys) pressing outward into the keyseat segments will have a tendency to hold the quick disconnect sling swivel in place, joined to the slingplate through the outward tension of the ball bearings.

In some embodiments, the invention includes a method including joining a slingplate having threaded mounting holes to a first side of the stock of the firearm; joining a slingplate having non-threaded mounting holes to the opposing side of the stock of the firearm; inserting a threaded fastener through a non-threaded mounting hole of the slingplate having non-threaded mounting holes; pushing the threaded fastener through the stock of the firearm; using a tool to rotate the head of the threaded fastener to couple with the threaded mounting hole of the slingplate on the first side of the stock of the firearm until the coupling is tight and secure; and repeating the steps until all mounting holes have threaded fasteners coupling the two slingplates to one another with the stock of the firearm disposed between the two slingplates. Using this method, a slingplate can be attached on either opposing side of a firearm, in the same relative position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a slingplate for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a slingplate for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a slingplate for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a quick disconnect sling swivel, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional isometric view of a slingplate for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a quick disconnect sling swivel mated with a slingplate for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a quick disconnect sling swivel mated with a slingplate for firearms that is mated to a firearm, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram for a method of providing slingplates for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates generally to firearms, and more specifically, to a slingplate for firearms. Specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1-8 to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. The present invention may have additional embodiments, may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment, or may have any detail described for one particular embodiment practiced with any other detail described for another embodiment.

FIGS. 1-3 are an isometric view, a side view, and a cross-sectional side view of a slingplate for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment, slingplate 100 includes a bottom surface 102, a top surface 104, a beveled ramp 106 at each end of the slingplate 100, a raised bridge 108, mounting holes 200 for enabling fasteners to releasably secure the slingplate to a firearm, and a through hole 300 for removably receiving a portion of a sling.

In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 is fabricated of metal. In a certain embodiment, a slingplate 100 is crafted from aerospace-grade billet 6061-T6 aluminum. Other materials including materials other than metal can be used to fabricate a slingplate 100. Such materials may include composites or any other compositions of matter suitable for a durable, hardened, non-malleable slingplate 100.

In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 can be anodized to coat the slingplate 100 with a protective layer. In a certain embodiment, a slingplate 100 is finished in accordance with Military Specification MIL-A-8625F, a type III class II hard-coat anodizing method. Other protective coatings or means can be imparted to a slingplate 100 to protect the slingplate 100 from corrosion, rust, contaminants, or any other hazards present in some environments in which a slingplate 100 may be used.

In a certain embodiment, a slingplate 100 has a bottom surface 102. In some embodiments, the bottom surface 102 is disposed adjacent to the surface of a firearm, such as at a stock of the firearm, or at any location of the firearm. In a certain embodiment, a slingplate 100 has a top surface 104 that is disposed opposite the bottom surface 102. In this embodiment, the top surface 104 appears to be a part of the exterior of the firearm when the slingplate 100 is attached to the firearm.

In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to a firearm. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 is releasably attached to a firearm. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 is releasably attached to a firearm using a fastener. In a certain embodiment, a slingplate 100 is releasably attached to a firearm using a fastener that is disposed through mounting holes 200 in a slingplate 100. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to the stock of a firearm. In certain embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to the stock of an after-market firearm purchased separate from the firearm. In a further embodiment, a slingplate 100 is attached to a Magpul Precision Rifle Stock (PRS) after-market rifle stock, replacing a sling loop that comes with the Magpul PRS stock. Such a stock is the Magpul part MAG307BLK, available from Brownells (http://www.brownells.com), although many other after-market rifle stocks are available and can be used in conjunction with an embodiment of the invention.

In a further embodiment, mounting holes 200 are disposed through opposite ends of a slingplate 100. In some embodiments, mounting holes 200 are threaded mounting holes. In other embodiments, mounting holes 200 are non threaded mounting holes. In some embodiments, a fastener can be a threaded fastener, such as a bolt or screw. In other embodiments, a fastener can be a non-threaded fastener, such as a pin, rivet, or other non-threaded fastener. In certain embodiments, a threaded fastener can have threads disposed along at least a part of a shaft of a threaded fastener. In certain embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to a firearm using a threaded fastener that mates with a threaded socket in the firearm. In other embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to a firearm using a threaded fastener that passes through the slingplate 100 and the firearm and couples with a nut or other device for securing the fastener. In other embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to a firearm and to another slingplate 100 disposed on the opposite side of the firearm using one or more threaded fasteners disposed through the first slingplate 100 and passing through the firearm, coupling with threaded mounting holes 200 in the second slingplate 100.

In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to a firearm using bolts that were originally used to secure a sling loop that came with the firearm. In other embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to a firearm using bolts provided with the slingplate 100. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to a firearm using a different method of fastening. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 is attached to a firearm using glue, cement, or any other adhesive. In other embodiments, a slingplate 100 is integrated into the surface of the firearm at the time of the manufacture of the firearm. In other embodiments, a slingplate 100 is integrated into the surface of an after-market rifle stock at the time of the manufacture of the rifle stock. Many means for attaching or integrating one or more slingplates 100 to a firearm or a component of firearm exist and are disclosed. Some such means are permanent attachments, while others are releasable attachments.

In a certain embodiment, a slingplate 100 has a beveled ramp 106 at each opposing end of a slingplate 100. In a further embodiment, a slingplate 100 may be thicker than the sling loop that a slingplate 100 replaces. That is, the distance between the bottom surface 102 and the top surface 104 of a slingplate 100 at its greatest distance is more than the distance between the bottom surface and the top surface of the sling loop. In a certain embodiment, a slingplate 100 can have a “taller” profile than the sling loop it replaces. However, in some embodiments, in order to reuse the bolts with which the original sling loop was attached to the firearm without undue modification of the firearm being required, beveled ramps 106 at each opposing end of a slingplate 100 lower the “height” of a slingplate 100 such that the same bolts originally used with a factory sling loop will secure a slingplate 100 to the firearm. In some embodiments, the mounting holes 200 are disposed through the beveled ramps 106 at such location as necessary to match the mounting location of the original sling loop.

In a certain embodiment, a slingplate 100 includes a raised bridge 108 at a center of a slingplate 100. In a further embodiment, a raised bridge 108 is disposed between the beveled ramps 106 at opposing ends of a slingplate 100. In some embodiments, a raised bridge 108 allows a strap to pass underneath and be joined to itself. Should a sling swivel break, in a pinch a slingplate 100 having a raised bridge 108 can still function as a sling loop, such that a sling can be passed underneath the slingplate 100 when the slingplate 100 is mounted to the firearm, and the sling can be joined to itself such that it still functions as a sling even without a functioning sling swivel. In some embodiments, a raised bridge 108 provides a larger gap between the bottom surface 102 of a slingplate 100 and the firearm to which the slingplate 100 is attached. A larger gap may be desirable for using a carry strap, where the carry strap is larger and may include padding, such that the carry strap is too large to be used in conjunction with a conventional sling loop because the carry strap will not pass beneath the sling loop. A raised bridge 108 of a slingplate 100 may provide a larger gap which enables a carry strap to pass beneath the slingplate 100. Further, in some embodiments, the taller “profile” of the slingplate 100 defined by the height of the raised bridge 108 may move the sling out of the way of controls of the firearm. In a standard sling loop, when a sling is attached, the sling at its loop may interfere with any controls of the firearm that are disposed near the sling loop. For example, a length-of-pull knob may be disposed adjacent to a sling loop of a firearm. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 with a raised bridge 108 that is “taller” than a sling loop may relocate the attached sling such that it does not interfere with adjustments to a length-of-pull knob, or to other controls of a firearm to which a slingplate 100 is attached. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 with a raised bridge 108 that is “taller” than a sling loop may permit easy cleaning and removal of debris which accumulates in a through hole 300 of a slingplate 100.

In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 includes one or more mounting holes 200 disposed through the slingplate 100. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 includes one or more mounting holes 200 disposed through the slingplate 100 at opposite ends of the slingplate 100. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 includes one or more mounting holes 200 disposed through the beveled ramps 106 at opposite ends of the slingplate 100. In some embodiments, mounting holes 200 are threaded mounting holes. In other embodiments, mounting holes 200 are non-threaded mounting holes. In some embodiments, mounting holes 200 may combine any mix of threaded and non-threaded mounting holes. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 may attach to a firearm using a combination of one or more fasteners disposed through one or more mounting holes in conjunction with any other method of fastening a slingplate 100 to a firearm.

In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 includes one or more through holes 300 disposed through the slingplate 100. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 includes one or more through holes 300 disposed through the raised bridge 108 of a slingplate 100. In some embodiments, the one or more through holes 300 may have an aperture disposed through a bottom surface 102 of a slingplate 100. In some embodiments, the one or more through holes 300 may have an aperture disposed through a top surface 104 of a slingplate 100. In certain embodiments, a through hole 300 of a slingplate 100 may have only a single aperture disposed through the top surface 104 of a slingplate 100. In some embodiments, a through hole 300 is configured to receive a portion of a sling. In a certain embodiment, the portion of a sling received by the through hole 300 is a sling swivel. Specifically, in a further embodiment, the portion of the sling swivel of a sling that is received by the through hole 300 is a shank of a sling swivel. As will be discussed in more detail, in some embodiments, a through hole 300 is configured to permit a sling swivel portion of a sling to rotate or articulate relative to the slingplate 100 when the sling swivel is mated with the through hole 300 of the slingplate 100. In other embodiments, a through hole 300 is counter bored, permitting a fastener to be disposed through the aperture of the through hole 300 disposed through the bottom surface 102 of a slingplate 100 prior to the slingplate 100 being attached to the firearm. In a further embodiment, such a fastener passed through a counter bored through hole 300 can join with a different portion of a sling. In a further embodiment, a fastener passed through a counter bored through hole 300 can join with a KNS Quick Detach Sling Swivel. In some embodiments, a through hole 300 is a threaded through hole, permitting a threaded fastener to be coupled to the threaded through hole 300. It should be appreciated that a portion of a sling or virtually any other apparatus intended to be mounted to a slingplate 100 for firearm can be attached using a threaded fastener joined to a threaded through hole 300 of a slingplate 100.

In other embodiments, a portion of a sling is couplable to a slingplate 100 via a strong magnet. In different embodiments, a portion of a sling is couplable to a slingplate 100 with thread, twine, or other tying devices. It should be appreciated that there are many means available for couplably receiving a sling to removably join the sling to the firearm.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a quick disconnect sling swivel, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a quick disconnect sling swivel 400 includes a push button 402, a shank 404, one ball or more ball bearings 406, and a sling loop 408. A ball bearing in the one or more ball bearings 406 can also be called a key. In some embodiments, a quick disconnect sling swivel 400 includes an internal mechanism that tensionally biases the one or more ball bearings 406 outward from an axis extending through the shank 404, the axis extending from the push button 402 to the bottom of the shank 404. In some embodiments, when the push button 402 is pushed, the one or more ball bearings 406 are no longer tensionally biased outward from the axis. In this fashion, the one or more ball bearings 406 normally are pushed outward and extend from the surface of the shank 404, but when the push button 402 is pushed, each of the one or more ball bearings may retreat to a corresponding channel for the ball bearing disposed along the interior of the shank 404. In some embodiments, when the push button 402 is released, the one or more ball bearings 402 are again pushed towards the outside of the shank 404. Apertures disposed through the sides of the shank 404 which permit the one or more ball bearings 402 to protrude from the sides of the shank 404 have a diameter that is smaller than the one or more ball bearings 402. In this fashion, in its normal state, the quick disconnect sling swivel retains the one or more ball bearings 402 inside the shank 404 while still tensionally biasing the one or more ball bearings 402 outwardly from the shank 404. Quick disconnect mechanisms incorporating a shank and one or more ball bearings are well known in the art. In some embodiments, also disposed through the shank 404 of a quick disconnect sling swivel 400 is a sling loop 408. In some embodiments, a sling loop 408 permits a sling to be passed through the loop. In some embodiments, a sling once passed through the sling loop 408 can be attached to itself, perhaps using a fastex buckle, or using other means of attaching the sling to itself Quick disconnect sling swivels are well known in the art and are commercially available. One such quick disconnect sling swivel is manufactured by VLTOR, manufacturer part QDS, available from Brownells (http://www.brownells.com), although many other quick disconnect sling swivels are available and can be used in conjunction with an embodiment of the invention.

In some embodiments, when joined to a slingplate 100, a sling articulates relative to a slingplate 100 through a ball and socket mechanism. In a different embodiment, a sling articulates relative to a slingplate 100 through a chain attachment. Many such options for imparting movement to a sling exist which allow the sling to articulate relative to the firearm when the sling is joined to the slingplate 100.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional isometric view of a slingplate for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a slingplate 100 includes a keyseated through hole 310. In a further embodiment, a slingplate 100 having a keyseated through hole 310 has a segmented keyseated through hole in which the keyseat is made up of one of more individual keyseat segments 312. In a certain embodiment, the keyseat is disposed concentrically with the keyseated through hole 310, in between the top aperture of the keyseated through hole 310 and the bottom aperture of the keyseated through hole 310. In a further embodiment, the keyseat is comprised of one or more keyseat segments 312 concentrically disposed about the through hole.

In some embodiments, when a quick disconnect sling swivel 400 is mated with a slingplate 100, the shank 404 of the quick disconnect sling swivel 400 is inserted into the keyseated mounting hole 310 of the slingplate 100. In a further embodiment, when inserting the shank 404 into the keyseated mounting hole and applying pressure to the quick disconnect sling swivel 400 in the direction of the slingplate 100, the one or more ball bearings 406 will recede inward into the shank 404 upon making contact with the slingplate 100 at the aperture disposed through the top surface 104 of the slingplate 100. In a further embodiment, when the quick disconnect sling swivel 400 is pressed into the slingplate 100, the tensionally biased one or more ball bearings 406 (where the ball bearings 406 are also known as keys) will each be received by the one or more individual keyseat segments 312. The tensionally biased ball bearings (keys) pressing outward into the keyseat segments 312 will have a tendency to hold the quick disconnect sling swivel 400 in place, joined to the slingplate 100 through the outward tension of the ball bearings.

In some embodiments, the quick disconnect sling swivel 400 is removed from the slingplate 100 by pressing the push button 402 and pulling the quick disconnect sling swivel away from the slingplate 100. When pressing the push button 402, the outward tensional bias of the one or more ball bearings 406 is eliminated, allowing the one or more ball bearings to recede inside the shank 404. Thus, when the push button 402 is pushed, there is no force to bias the ball bearings into the keyseat segments 312 of the keyseated through hole 310 of the slingplate 100, and the quick disconnect sling swivel 400 can be smoothly removed from the slingplate 100.

In some embodiments, a keyseat of a keyseated through hole 310 is divided into one or more keyseat segments 312. The one or more keyseat segments 312 meet at two or more points along the keyseat. The individual keyseat segments 312 have a maximum concave measurement at the center of the keyseat segments, but the keyseat segments get shallower near the ends of the individual keyseat segments. The keyseat segments eventually get so shallow at the very ends of the segments that the individual segments touch one another, such that the keyseat at these points has the same diameter as the rest of the keyseated through hole 310. The purpose of constructing the keyseat with individual keyseat segments is to limit the rotation of a quick disconnect sling swivel 400 once it has been inserted in a slingplate 100. Consider a keyseat which is a single segment. While the one or more ball bearings 406 extend outward and keep the shank 406 of the quick disconnect sling swivel 400 from moving towards or away the firearm, nothing prevents the sling swivel from rotating about the shank 406 when mated with the slingplate 100. In some applications, permitting the quick disconnect sling swivel to rotate about an axis disposed from the center of the bottom of the shank 406 to the center of the push button 402 is desirable. However, in other applications, permitting the swivel to rotate without impediment would result in a sling becoming unacceptably twisted. The function of the one of more keyseat segments 312 that comprise the keyseat in some embodiments is to limit the rotation of the swivel when mated with the slingplate 100. In some embodiments, the keyseat is a single segment, permitting unlimited rotation of the swivel. In different embodiments, the keyseat is comprised of individual keyseat segments 312, wherein the individual keyseat segments meet at two or more points. In a further embodiment, the individual keyseat segments are narrowed such that the swivel can rotate no more than 30 degrees from center.

In some embodiments, a keyseat is a simple channel cut squarely into the through hole. In these embodiments, the keyseat has right angles cut into the wall of the keyseated through hole 310, and the keyseat channel has a “squared-off” appearance. In these embodiments, a stress riser may be created at the right angles, possibly impacting the strength of the slingplate 100, and reducing the amount of surface contact between the individual keyseat segments 312 and the one or more ball bearings 406. In a different embodiment, the one or more keyseat segments 312 are one or more rounded keyseat segments. The keyseat is cut into the wall of the keyseated through hole 310 in a U shape. In this embodiment, there are no stress risers due to the keyseat, and the one or more ball bearings 406 engage more surface area of the rounded keyseat, distributing load more evenly and creating a better coupling of the quick disconnect sling swivel 400 and the slingplate 100.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a quick disconnect sling swivel mated with a slingplate for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a quick disconnect sling swivel mated with a slingplate for firearms that is mated to a firearm, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A portion of a sling with a fastex buckle can be sewn or otherwise fastened to a sling loop 408 of a quick disconnect sling swivel 400.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram for a method of providing slingplates for firearms, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Method 800 includes joining a slingplate having threaded mounting holes to a first side of the stock of the firearm 802; joining a slingplate having non-threaded mounting holes to the opposing side of the stock of the firearm 804; inserting a threaded fastener through a non-threaded mounting hole of the slingplate having non-threaded mounting holes 806; pushing the threaded fastener through the stock of the firearm 808; using a tool to rotate the head of the threaded fastener to couple with the threaded mounting hole of the slingplate on the first side of the stock of the firearm until the coupling is tight and secure 810; and repeating the steps until all mounting holes have threaded fasteners coupling the two slingplates to one another with the stock of the firearm disposed between the two slingplates 812. Using this method, a slingplate can be attached on either opposing side of a firearm, in the same relative position. This would permit a user to quickly change a sling from one side of the firearm to the other side.

While preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. 

1. A slingplate for removably coupling a sling to a firearm, comprising: a bottom surface disposed adjacent to a stock of the firearm; a top surface opposite the bottom surface; a beveled ramp of the top surface at a first end of the slingplate; a beveled ramp of the top surface at a second end of the slingplate; a raised bridge disposed between the first end and the second end of the slingplate; one or more through holes, the one or more through holes configured for removably receiving a portion of a sling, the one or more through holes disposed through the raised bridge of the slingplate at a center of the slingplate; and one or more mounting holes, the one or more mounting holes for enabling one or more fasteners to secure with the stock of the firearm, the one or more mounting holes disposed through the beveled ramps of the slingplate.
 2. The slingplate of claim 1, wherein the one or more through holes further comprise: a top aperture disposed through the top surface of the slingplate; a bottom aperture disposed through the bottom surface of the slingplate; and a keyseat having one or more keyseat segments, the keyseat disposed concentrically with the through hole, the keyseat further disposed between the top aperture of the through hole and the bottom aperture of the through hole, the keyseat configured to receive one or more ball bearings of a shank of a portion of a sling.
 3. The slingplate of claim 2, wherein the keyseat having one or more keyseat segments further comprises a keyseat having one or more rounded keyseat segments.
 4. The slingplate of claim 2, wherein the keyseat having one or more keyseat segments further comprises a keyseat having one or more keyseat segments wherein the individual keyseat segments meet at two or more points.
 5. The slingplate of claim 1, wherein the one or more mounting holes for enabling one or more fasteners to secure with the stock of the firearm further comprise one or more threaded mounting holes for enabling one or more threaded fasteners to secure with the stock of the firearm.
 6. The slingplate of claim 1, wherein the one or more through holes further comprise one or more counter-bored through holes, the counter-bored through holes being configured to receive one or more fasteners having a head and a shaft, wherein the counter-bored through holes further comprise: a top aperture disposed through the top surface of the slingplate, the top aperture having a radius, the top aperture configured to receive the shaft of a fastener; and a bottom aperture disposed through the bottom surface of the slingplate, the bottom aperture having a radius larger than the radius of the top aperture, the bottom aperture being configured to receive the head of a fastener.
 7. The slingplate of claim 1, wherein the one or more through holes further comprise one or more threaded through holes, the one or more threaded through holes being configured to receive one or more threaded fasteners.
 8. A method for couplably attaching two slingplates to either side of a stock of a firearm, comprising: joining a slingplate having one or more threaded mounting holes to a first side of the stock of the firearm, lining up the threaded mounting holes of the slingplate having one or more threaded mounting holes with one or more mounting holes disposed through the stock of the firearm; joining a slingplate having one or more non-threaded mounting holes to the opposing side of the stock of the firearm, lining up the threaded mounting holes of the slingplate having one or more non-threaded mounting holes with one or more mounting holes disposed through the stock of the firearm; inserting a threaded fastener through a non-threaded mounting hole of a slingplate having one or more non-threaded mounting holes; pushing the threaded fastener through the stock of the firearm; using a tool to rotate the head of the threader fastener to couple with the threaded mounting hole of the slingplate on the first side of the stock of the firearm until the coupling is tight and secure; and repeating the steps until all mounting holes have threaded fasteners coupling the two slingplates to one another with the stock of the firearm disposed between the two slingplates.
 9. A slingplate for removably coupling a sling to a firearm, comprising: a bottom surface disposed adjacent to a stock of the firearm; a top surface disposed opposite the bottom surface; a means for attaching the slingplate to the firearm; a means for couplably receiving a sling to removably join the sling to the firearm; and a means for enabling a sling to articulate relative to the firearm when the sling is joined to the slingplate. 